Author: Mark Marshall

School/Organization:

West Philadelphia High School

Year: 2015

Seminar: Penn Laboratory on Energy, Sustainability and Environment

Grade Level: 9-12

Keywords: electricity, engineering, environmental design, LEED, power, Technology

School Subject(s): Environmental Science, Math, Science

The environmental impact on new designed buildings, construction, and operation industry is significant. Buildings annually consume more than 30% of total energy and 60% of the electricity used in United States. Power generation is a leading cause of air pollution and the single largest source of U.S. global warming emissions. Coal is the worst offender, a dirty energy source that produces less than half our electricity but nearly 80 percent of all power plant carbon emissions.

 

This unit on electricity is intended to enhance the student’s understanding of energy and light pollution; how electricity generated from fossil fuels can impact the environment beginning with extraction transportation, refining and distribution. Students will look at how to better improve on the environment as a whole by being more energy efficient and looking at other sources of energy other than fossil fuels to reduce environmental impacts. In this unit the student will gain a better understanding of LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design), light pollution from artificial life, and how to conserve energy. Students will be given real world experience on how to gather data, develop charts and spreadsheets to evaluate given information and come to logical conclusions. Look to future technology and science to improve the environment. Student will also understand that technology and science have limitations, and that people must change behaviors. Students will have to perform a number of math problems to solve a given task. Students will also be responsible for designing lighting (a new light layout in a reflected ceiling plan) in a commercial space given this newly found information.

Download Unit: Marshall-Mark-unit.pdf

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